Paul Kline

paul.kline@mtsu.edu

Greg Van Patten

Chemistry

Discipline specific equipment

SCI 3099

N/A

N/A

The B.S. in Biochemistry produced its first graduates in 2009, starting with little funding and aging equipment. In the ensuing 8 years it has been difficult to keep up with both an increasing number of Biochemistry majors, and the rapidly expanding technology expectations in the field of biochemistry and molecular biology. In addition, students in the Pre-Professional Health Science (Pre-med, Pre-pharmacy, etc.), Forensic Science, Biology, and the new Fermentation Science program have come to rely on their Biochemistry courses to help prepare them for careers in which hands-on working knowledge of cutting-edge technology is paramount. Courses that utilize this equipment include CHEM 3530, 3880, 4230, 4530, 4880, and FSCH 3530, 4230. These courses serve over 250 students per year. The equipment requested in this proposal is urgently needed as a combination of replacements for equipment that has failed (spectrophotometers that are 13 years old and are the primary piece of technology in the Biochemistry lab) and new equipment that will meet modern standards. For example, the new requested spectrophotometers will incorporate UV capabilities, which will vastly expand the variety of biochemical molecules that can be examined. The protein purification system is a replacement for a 20-year-old system that can no longer be repaired. The preparative scale chromatography system will allow the students to gain experience in the area of natural product isolation, one of the fastest growing areas of biochemistry.